Six persons jailed for conspiracy to defraud

Five men and a woman aged from 26 to 46 were sentenced to imprisonments ranging from two years and eight months to five years for conspiracy to defraud at the District Court today (October 20).

The court heard that the defendants set up three companies in Wan Chai, Cheung Sha Wan and Tsim Sha Tsui and placed advertisements on newspapers to recruit junior staff.

The companies enticed the newly recruited staff to invest in trading of expensive breast firming and slimming pills, alleging that buyers were readily available to purchase the products.

The victims purchased large quantity of the products but were later told by the companies that all subsequent sales collapsed due to the absence of health certificates.

A total of 52 victims were suffered and the total amount involved was about $2.6 million.

Following extensive investigations, officers of Commercial Crime Bureau arrested 41 persons during an operation in July 2004. Sixteen of them were later charged with conspiracy to defraud.

Ten of the defendants were acquitted in an earlier trial while the remaining six defendants were convicted of the charge and sentenced today.

Police remind members of the public to beware of the employment fraud and urge them to report any suspicious circumstances.


Police Report No. 8

Issued by PPRB

Ends/Friday, October 20, 2006